WEBVTT MEGAN: THIS IS DANIELLE MORRING’S EIGHT MONTH CHECK UP. >> THIS IS MY BABY SO I’M SUPER FIRST EXCITED. JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING A MOM. MEGAN SHE SAYS SHE HAS FELT : GREAT THROUGHOUT HER PREGNANCY WITH ONE EXCEPTION. >> HEARTBURN. I KEEP, IT HAS BEEN MY CONSTANT COMPANION THIS ENTIRE PREGNANCY AND IT TAKES NOTHING FOR ME TO GET IT. I CAN SMELL SOMEONE ELSE’S FOOD AND IT WILL GIVE ME HEARTBURN. MEGAN: HER OBSTETRICIAN DOCTOR JANELLE COOPER AT MERCY MEDICAL CENTER HEARS THIS FROM A LOT OF PATIENTS. >> WHEN YOU’RE PREGNANT, SOME OF THE PREGNANCY HORMONES ARE PRODUCED IN YOUR BODY BECAUSE THE LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER TO RELAX. THEREFORE YOU GET SOME OF THE ACID THAT COMES BACK. MEGAN HER FIRST SUGGESTION TO : EXPECTANT MOTHERS IS DIET. >> DECREASING FATTY FOODS, DECREASE OR SPICY FOODS, TOMATO-BASED FOODS. ANYTHING THAT’S ACIDIC AND SURPRISINGLY CHOCOLATE. DR. COOPER ALSO SAYS SOMETIM CHANGING WHEN YOU EAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOO >> GENERALLY TWO TO THREE HOURS BEFORE BEDTIME IS WHEN YOU WANT TO CUT OFF MEALS BECAUSE THAT CAN MAKE HEARTBURN WORSE. MEGAN: IT DIDN’T WORK FOR DANIELLE, WHICH CAN BE IN THE CASE IN SOME PREGNANCIES. THAT’S WHEN DOCTOR COOPER SUGGESTS MEDICATION. SHE PRESCRIBED ZANTAC FOR DANIELLE, AND IT HAS HELPED. >> DON’T SUFFER. IF YOU’RE HAVING IT, PLEASE TELL YOUR DOCTOR BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO. MEGAN DANIELLE IS GLAD SHE : TALKED IT OVER WITH HER DOCTOR. SHE SAYS IN THE LONG RUN, THE HEARTBURN IS WORTH HER FULL HEART. >> I WAITED MY WHOLE LIFE FOR THIS. TO BE HERE, IT’S LIKE, I DON’T CARE WHAT IT TAKES. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE. THE HEARTBURN IS LIKE THE LEAST OF MY WORRIES WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGH

Pregnancy can bring a lot of joy and anticipation, and it can also bring on unexpected changes and discomforts. A common one is heartburn.A doctor explains ways to ease the problem."This is my first baby, so I'm super excited, just looking forward to being a mom," said Danielle Morring during her eight-month checkup.Morring said she has felt great throughout her pregnancy -- with one exception."Heartburn, heartburn -- It has been my constant companion this entire pregnancy. It takes nothing for me to get it. Like, I can smell someone else's food and it will give me heartburn," Morring said.Her obstetrician, Dr. Janelle Cooper at Mercy Medical Center, said she hears this from a lot of patients."When you're pregnant, some of the pregnancy hormones are produced in your body because the lower esophageal sphincter to relax. Therefore, you get some of the acid that comes back," Cooper said.Her first suggestion to expectant mothers is diet."Decreasing fatty foods, decrease or spicy foods, tomato-based foods. Anything that's acidic and surprisingly, chocolate," Cooper said.Cooper also said sometime changing when you eat can make a difference, too."I counsel patients they should not eat and then lie down. So, generally, two to three hours before that time is when you want to cut off meals because it can make heartburn worse," Cooper said.It didn't work for Morring, which can be in the case in some pregnancies. That's when Cooper suggests medication. She prescribed Zantac for Morring -- and it has helped."Don't suffer. If you're having it, please tell your doctor because there are things you can do," Cooper said.Morring is glad she talked it over with her doctor. She said in the long run, the heartburn is worth her full heart."I waited my whole life for this. To be here, it's like, I don't care what it takes. We're going to make it to the finish line. The heartburn is like the least of my worries when I think about what's happening right now," Morring said.

BALTIMORE —

Pregnancy can bring a lot of joy and anticipation, and it can also bring on unexpected changes and discomforts. A common one is heartburn.

A doctor explains ways to ease the problem.

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"This is my first baby, so I'm super excited, just looking forward to being a mom," said Danielle Morring during her eight-month checkup.

Morring said she has felt great throughout her pregnancy -- with one exception.

"Heartburn, heartburn -- It has been my constant companion this entire pregnancy. It takes nothing for me to get it. Like, I can smell someone else's food and it will give me heartburn," Morring said.

Her obstetrician, Dr. Janelle Cooper at Mercy Medical Center, said she hears this from a lot of patients.

"When you're pregnant, some of the pregnancy hormones are produced in your body because the lower esophageal sphincter to relax. Therefore, you get some of the acid that comes back," Cooper said.

Cooper also said sometime changing when you eat can make a difference, too.

"I counsel patients they should not eat and then lie down. So, generally, two to three hours before that time is when you want to cut off meals because it can make heartburn worse," Cooper said.

It didn't work for Morring, which can be in the case in some pregnancies. That's when Cooper suggests medication. She prescribed Zantac for Morring -- and it has helped.

"Don't suffer. If you're having it, please tell your doctor because there are things you can do," Cooper said.

Morring is glad she talked it over with her doctor. She said in the long run, the heartburn is worth her full heart.

"I waited my whole life for this. To be here, it's like, I don't care what it takes. We're going to make it to the finish line. The heartburn is like the least of my worries when I think about what's happening right now," Morring said.